SPRING
& SUMMER 2010
November
10-11, 2010
I went up for the annual beacon lighting
at the Split Rock Lighthouse on November 10. It was a mild evening with a
breeze out of the east. There was enough moisture in the air to help enhance
the light as it penetrated the night sky. I camped out overnight planning
to shoot the sunrise back at the lighthouse the following morning. I have
been up at the lighthouse on November 11 for sunrise for the last two consecutive
years, and each year I have witnessed amazing sunrises. I woke up this morning
with high expectations, but with thick clouds over head, I was cautiously
optimistic. I headed down to the lake and waited for first light. There were
some big waves rolling into shore, so I positioned myself as close as I felt
comfortable. Eventually the sun began to break through a few pockets in the
clouds creating a dramatic backdrop for the incoming waves. After about two
hours of pictures, it was time for breakfast.
September
26-October 6, 2010
I just spent ten days up on the North Shore. I am currently
working on my second book project and wanted to spend as much time along the
shore as I could. The colors came about a week ahead of schedule and were
the best I had seen in years. It seemed everywhere I went I found perfect
conditions. Lake Superior was calm enough (which I have never seen this late
in the year) for me to get out and do some paddling around the Split Rock
Lighthouse. I managed to capture a double rainbow over Palisade Head near
Silver Bay. Each day I would hike about fifteen miles photographing
the colors. I tried to hike into a new location each morning and evening.
One morning I hiked into Lake Agnus and captured the lake enshrouded in a
light fog with vibrant colors along the shore. I also tried to shoot a few
self-portraits of myself at various locations. Overall it was my best photographic
trip to the North Shore.
September
2-4, 2010
I went up to the North Shore to do a little backpacking and
picture taking. I was nursing a sore ankle so I wasn’t sure how far I was
going to be able to hike. I wanted to hike into Carlson Pond, look for moose,
and do some short day hikes. A storm system was rolling in, so Lake Superior
was churning. I stopped at “Lake Walk” near Judge Magney State Park and photographed
some incoming waves. I started down the trail around 4:00 PM and got to my
campsite on Carlson Pond three hours later (5.5 miles). My ankle really slowed
me down. I just set up my tent when it started to rain. I listened to the
rain on my tent and fell asleep by 8:00. It rained the whole night and when
I got up the following morning it was still raining. After breakfast I ventured
outside my tent to survey my surroundings. Carlson Pond is a gorgeous little
pond. I found some moose tracks and droppings so I was excited about the
possibility seeing a moose on this trip. It continued to rain all day, and
with my ankle still very soar, I decided to just hang out in my tent and
wait for moose. The rain let up towards evening and I quickly made supper.
Still no moose. The temperature was dropping and the wind had picked up.
There was a definite fall chill in the air. I woke up the following morning
and managed to get a nice picture of Carlson Pond with a little pocket of
sun. I ate a hearty breakfast, broke camp, and headed down the trail back
to my truck. My foot was pretty swollen so I stopped by Tettegouche State
to soak my foot in the cold water of Lake Superior and to see the new “Stack."
Another good backpacking trip.
August
6-8, 2010
Every year my wife and I take my mom camping at one of Minnesota’s
State Parks. This year we camped at Jay Cooke State Park. We spent some time
in Duluth and traveled up the North Shore. On Saturday night we got hit
by some nasty storms (high winds, lightning, heavy rain). Duluth picked up
4" of rain overnight. I shot the two waterfall images just before the storms
hit. In the morning I went into the Duluth to look for any puddles/reflections
from the recent storm. This was a fun and relaxing trip, no art shows, just
spending time with family.
July
23, 2010
On July 31, 2010 the Split Rock Lighthouse celebrated its
100 year anniversary. My wife and I made our camping reservations in the
campground a year in advance. This event was the highlight of the summer,
possibly the year. I wanted to photograph the whole days festivities from
sunrise to sunset. There were thousands of people at the lighthouse; many
were bussed from nearby Gooseberry State Park. As the day drew to a close,
we were treated to a wonderful display of fireworks over the lighthouse.
I debated (for months) where I wanted to photograph the fireworks. When I
saw how calm the lake was I knew I needed to be close to the shoreline in
order the capture all the reflections off the water. It was fun seeing old
friends and making some new ones. In case you missed the fireworks, I guess
you will have to wait another 100 years.
July
10-12, 2010
These are some images taken from two separate trips to the
North Shore. We spent some time in the Grand Marais area. I have been wanting
to capture lightning over the Grand Marais harbor, so when this storm rolled
through early one morning I finally got my picture. My wife and I hiked
up the Kadunce River and took our picture in on of the many cascades. The Gooseberry waterfall
was a four minute exposure taken with a new filter I purchased this summer.
Look for more longer exposure images of waterfalls in the future. The last
image is the Tettegouche shoreline just after sunrise.
July
23, 2010
What a busy summer it has been! I apologize for not updating
my photo journal page. I am doing a lot more art shows this summer so
I haven’t had any extra time to work on my website. I have been taking
pictures all summer, but most of my images are still on my camera. When
things slow down, I will process all my images and get them on my website.
If you have a chance, tune into “On The Road With Jason Davis” on July
25 at 11:05. He is doing a special edition on the Split Rock Lighthouse.
I ran into Jason Davis while he was filming this episode and he interviewed
me and my book for his show. You can view this episode online at:
June
12-13, 2010
My wife and I went up to the Split Rock Lighthouse to do
an art show and book signing on Saturday. It was rainy and very foggy most
of the time, so it was good for pictures. I have been wanting to take
some pictures from inside and lighthouse. The following morning the lake
was calm with nice pockets of fog. I found a new overlook and composed the
lighthouse in the fog below the horizon line. I hope to be up there again
for the beacon lighting on July 2.
May
29-30, 2010
My wife and I drove up to the North Shore for our 14th wedding
anniversary and to do a book signing at the Split Rock Lighthouse. Early
Saturday morning we saw northern lights coming into Duluth, but I didn't
take any pictures. I arrived at the lighthouse around 4:00 AM but the northern
lights had ceased. This time of year the sunrise is very early in the
morning. Not a lot of people out, just me and the morning birds. The lake
was a little windy, and the lack of clouds almost kept me in the truck.
I hiked up Day Hill Trail before sunrise then down to Pebble Beach around
sunrise. Towards dusk some rain clouds rolled across the lake and I managed
to shoot this faded rainbow from out of our hotel window.
May
7-9, 2010
I drove up for the beacon lighting at the lighthouse. They
will be lighting the beacon every first friday through November. The weather
was perfect. Windy, cold, freezing rain and snow. I have been waiting
years for conditions like these. The blowing snow was illuminated by
the beacon and created a defined line into the night air. There was no
sunrise to following morning, but the next morning I was treated to a
colorful sunrise.
May
1, 2010
I have been very busy this spring taking and editing wedding
pictures so I have not been able to get out much to shoot. Today I was
out driving around the coutry side with my camera and found these two
barns. I will be adding more images as time allows so please check back
again, and always, thanks for looking.
